Bird's Eye
Page 55
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ViewBY THE HAWK
Joe Cox's Secret
NOEL WYNN, national vice-chairman, was on good form at the RHA's Western area dinner on Friday. He followed Bristol's Chief Constable, who had said that hauliers were relatively lawabiding folk. "Aha", said Noel, "and I can let you into a little secret about the reason for that. In his office, Joe Cox (area secretary) has a special machine to which he submits all applications for membership. And only those who pass as law-abiding are admitted to the Association." The Chief Constable, Mr. Twist, was applauded loudly when he revealed his secret. "My father was a haulier", he said. He also went down well with the comment that the police and road hauliers had a common interest—bearing other people's burdens.
GV9 for Henhouse
TT was a night for transport confessions. Tom Corpe, legal -1 adviser to the Western area RHA, and formidable advocate in the traffic courts, revealed that he once, many years ago, ran a lorry—of somewhat dubious roadworthiness. Pounced on by an examiner, it received an immediate prohibition.• He took the hint: he turned it into a poultry house and put his transport "in the hands of the professionals". There was something special about Friday's dinner. It marked 21 years' service by Joe Cox—first as assistant, later as area secretary —and on behalf of members Frank Russett presented an astonished Joe with an expensive-looking writing set. Frank is the outgoing area chairman, but another Russett is taking his place—nephew Harold. All very confusing.
What a Let–down!
SCHOOL buses in the North Salem school district of New York were all more than an hour late one day last week—because of 192 flat tyres. Drivers reporting for duty found that the air had been let out of every one of the six tyres on all the district's 32 buses. No apples for the teachers who guessed who was responsible!.
Pillar Box Democracy
TN the very same issue of Hansard as Jim Callaghan's "We are back on course" Budget speech, is a Parliamentary Q & A that must warm the heart of every budding Ombudsman. Would the PMG have a pillar box erected at the corner of Swiss Farm Road and Westlands Road, Shrewsbury—otherwise it's such a long way to walk. Yes he would—or more correctly he already had! If that technique were applied to bus stops Barbara would need more than an 11-hour day complex. She would be in permanent sitting.
Bacon and Schnapps
T NOTE from the lively Hampton's News Sheet published by Dick Hampton (Earth Moving) Ltd. that a substantial movement of road-making machinery, tractors, scrapers and rollers was undertaken recently from the firm's base at Blacknest (Hants.) to Uberlingen, Germany. Round trips using the Thoresen SouthamptonLe Havre roll-on/roll-off ferry occupied about eight days; on the outwards journeys escort cars for the abnormal loads were necessary. The operators sent to Germany gradually adopted strange eating habits—but tea breaks and bacon and egg breakfasts were preserved! Drinking capacities of the English and Scottish operators were, I understand, equal to the schnapps and wine of the Black Forest. By the time the contract was completed an English-GermanScottish dialect served as a most useful medium of communication.
Indivisible Load
TNTERPRETING licence conditions seems a never-ending task, and it always amazes me that some of the odd ones which turn up have not been settled in the previous 30-odd years of carriers' licensing. For example, there has been a nice little "what is livestock vis deadstock?" controversy simmering away for about a year now. An unconnected angle on this was told me recently by John Budd —an experienced MoT man who has been described as a cutter of red tape. He works in the Western LA's office in Bristol. He had a call from a haulier who had been asked to carry an elephant. Did an elephant fall within his "livestock" conditions? There might be lions, too. Just to be on the safe side the variation was published, but there were no objections. Now I know what an elephant is: unforgettably indivisible livestock.
Complaints Department
EIIRST to complain to the Southend Education Department about 11the proposed fare increases by Eastern National and Southend Transport Department for children before 9 a.m. Mondays to Fridays was an Eastern National conductor. He has also complained to the Prices and Incomes Board and the Ministry of Transport. Small wonder! He has three schoolgirl daughters travelling to school by bus and their fares even now cost him 7s. 6d. a week.
LDOY Chief Constable!
COMEHOW a line of type went astray last week in our report of the opening of Pointer's East Anglia brake-testing centre . and a somewhat surprised Chief Constable of Norfolk read that he was apparently "the present holder of the Lorry Driver of the Year Award"! For the record—and correctly—the opening ceremony was performed by Chief Constable F. P. C. Garland and LDOY title-holder A. Stanaway.